Compressor for gas engines



July 19,1927.

W. H. BUNKER COMPRESSOR FOR GAS ENGINES Filed Oct, '2. 1920 4 shuts-Sheet 2 July 19,1927. 3

w. H. BUNKER COMPRESSORFOR GAS ENGINES Filed Oct. 7, 1920 4 sheets-Sheet 3 o m o & Q3 N) g Q g v Q R '2 Q a 3 k h Q\ a R &

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QE INVENTOR B WILL-1AM H. BUN-KER. 9. I b 7 W *1 3 2 Patented July 19,1927.

UNITED STATES PATEN comrnnsson FOR ens ENGINES.

Application filed October 7, 1920. Serial No. 415,337.

My invention relates to improvements in fluid compressors, and theobject of the in vention is to provide a storage Chamber for a gaseous mixture used as the motive power for combustion engines and hereinafter referred to as the mixture, and air operated means foiucompressing such mixture in the storage chamber and maintaining the pressure as the volume of the mixture decreases as it is drawn off from the storage chamber to the point of utilization, and it consists essentially of a main cylinder, a piston operating therein, a suitably operated piston rod for such piston, a storage cylinder, a piston operating in the storage cylinder, nonreturn means whereby mixture is drawn in to'the main cylinder by the movement of the main piston in one direction, non-return means whereby such mixture is forced into the storage cylinder against the front face of the piston thereof by the movement of the main piston in the opposite direction whereby the piston of the storage cylinder is carried in one direction, automatic meansoperated by the piston of the storage cylinder when at the limit of its movement for shut- I ting oil the aforesaid mixture .supply to the main cylinder and sin iultaneously opening an air supply to the opposite end ofthe main. cylinder whereby the continued movement of the main piston forces the air into the opposite end of the storage cylinder to bear and produce pressure against the rear or opposite side of the storage cylinder piston, to hold in compression the mixture located in the storage chamber in front of the storage cylinder piston and a safety valve for the storagecylinder adapted to be set to control the amount of pressure produced in the storage cylinder by the air so as to produce and maintain the pressure on the mixture as the supply of the mixture in the storage chamber is decreased by being 7 drawn off to the point of utilization, as hereafter more particularly explained by the following specification.

F ig. 1 is a side elevation of my compressor. Fig. 2 is .a similar View to Fig. 1 taken at the opposite side of the compressor.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan taken through Fig. 1 on line 12-,1 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the compressor.

F ig. 5 is an end elevation of the compres sor looking from tne left hand end, as in dica't-ed in Fig.1. 7 1

Fig. 6 is an end QlGVZItIOIl of the comprea=- sor, looking from the opposite end to that indicated in Fig. 5. r

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view .showing the connection of the compressor and a rotary engine, the operating parts for the sake of clearness being removed from the compressor.

Fig. -8 is a detail view showing the driving connection between the main shaft of the engine and the compressor piston rod. Fig.

9 1s a sectional detail of .a portion of the trip control mechanism located at'the left hand end of the compressor. Fig. 10 is a perspective detail of one of the cam-plates.

In the'drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each figure. i

The main portion or the body of my com pressor comprises a lower cylinder '81 and an upper cylinder 82. .83 is a piston operating wi'thin'th'e cylinder 81. 84 is a piston op crating-within the cylinder 82 and dividing the cylinder 82 into two chamber into one of which the mixture is fed to be held under pressure and into the other of which atthe other side of the plston S 1, air as a pressm'e maintaining fluid is fed.

.85 is the piston rod ofthe piston 83, such piston rod passing through one'end' of the cylinder 81 and through a suitable bushing.

The piston rod 85 is'driven from the main shaft .13 of the engine by means which I will now describe.

86 is bearing standard or suitable "sup- OFFICE.

port located between the compressor and t'he engine. 87 is a lever mounted at 8'8. upon such support and provided at one end with a longitudinal slot- 89.

90is a link pivotally connected at 91 to r the piston rod 85 and pivotally connected at the opposite end at 92 tothe leyer ,87.

93 is 'a' push rod slidably held in suit-. able stationary bearings 94 and 95 and provided with .an upwardly extending pin 96 extending into'the slot 89.

97 is a bracket carried by the engine. 98 is is a pinion secured to the shaft 13 of the engine.

99 is a gear mounted upon the bracket 97 j and meshing with the pinion 98.

100 is a pinion carried by the gear 99 and meshi ng with the gear 101 carried by the I opposite end to the push rod 93 at 104. By this means it will be seen that the piston rod is reciprocated and the piston 83 reciprocated within the cylinder 81.

is a mixture supply pipe forming an inlet for the mixture into the cylinder 81, the piston 83 preventing the passage of such mixture past the same into the space formed by the cylinder 81 at the opposite side or rear of the piston.

106 is a non-return valve located in the pipe 105. r

107 is a pipe connecting the cylinder 81 with the cylinder 82.

The pipe 107 is provided with a nonreturn valve 108.

109 is a pipe through which the mixture is discharged, such pipe also being provided with a non-return valve 110 preventing the return of the discharged mixture into the cylinder 82.

111 is a piston rod for operating the piston 84.

112 and 113 are flanges extending outward from the upper cylinder 82 and forming a guiding groove 114.

11.5 is a slide bar slidahle within the guiding groove 114 and provided at its right hand end with an inward extension 116 terminating in a sleeve-like portion 117 in extension piece 126.

which the outer end of the piston rod 111 is secured.

118 is a cam bar which is carried by the slide bar and is provided with an inclined innerend 119 for a purpose which will hereafter appear,

120 is a curved arm carried by the cylinder 81.

The arm 120 swings upon the pin 121. carried in a bracket 122, and is provided at its upper end with an inwardly curved portion 123 provided with jaws 124 in which is journalled a friction roller 125 which normally bears against the cam bar 118.

The lower end of the arm 120 is provided with an extension 126 which is swung upon the pin 127 and is provided with a tail piece 128 bearing against the outer edge of the arm 120. The extension piece is held in this position by means of a spring 129 which is wound around the pin 127 and bears at one end against the inner edge of the arm 120 and at its outer end against the pin 130 carried in proximity to the outer end of the The free end of the extension piece 126 is provided with an enlargement 131 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. 132is a projection extending from the piston rod 85. 133 is a lever which is pivoted on the head of the cylinder 81 at 134, the inner end of the lever extending over the piston rod 85 so as to oppose the projection 132. 135 is a slide bar carried in guiding loops 136 and 137. The outer end of the slide bar 135 is hingedly connected at 138 to the outer end of the lever 133. 139 is a portion extending upwardly from the slide bar 135 and-on which is carried a wedge piece 140. 141 is a locking lever which is hingedly mounted intermediately of its length as at 142 on the cylinder 81. The locking lever 141 is provided at its inner end with a slightly outturned portion 143 against which the wedge piece is carried in order to impart a swinging action to the locking le er 141. The opposite end of the locking lever 141 is zrovided with an out-turned portion 144 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. 145 is a lever pivotally carried at one end upon the opposite end of the cylinder 81. The lever 145 extends from its support across the centre of the cylinder 81 to the outer periphery thereof. 146 is a slide bar held in loop supports 147 and 146. The outer end of the slide bar 148 is hingedly connected at 149 to the lever 145. 150 are guiding loops located in vertical alignment and carried by the cylinders 81 and 82. 151 is a push bar extending through the guiding loops 150 so as to have free vertical movement therein. 152 is a lever pivoted at 153 and provided at its inner end with a longitudinal slot 154. 155 is a pin extending from the push bar 151 through the slot 154. The opposite or outer end of the lever 152 is provided with a roller 156. 157 is a block carried by the slide bar 115. The block 157 is provided with an inclined upper face with which the roller 156 engages. The lower end of the push bar 151 is provided with a Wedge shaped enlargement 158 located in proximity to its lower end. The head of the cylinder 81 carrying the lever 145 is provided with a central orifice 159 (see Fig. 9) in which is slidably held a plug 160 having heads 161 and 162. The wedge piece 158 is designed to be forced downwardly between the head 161 and the lever 145. The inner end. of the slide bar 146 is provided with an upward extension 163 provided with a wedge shaped end 164. 165 is a lever pivoted at 166 and provided at its inner end with a slightly out-turned portion 167 contacting with the incline of the wedge piece 164 and at its opposite end with an out-turned locking extension 168. The heads of the cylinder 81 are provided with cross ribbed enlargements 169 and 170 provided with longitudinal bores 171 and 173 and 174 are rods slidable within the bores 171 and 172. The rods 173 and 174 are provided with diainetric orifices 175 and 176 which are adapted to be brought alternately in and out of alignment with the aligned orifices 177 and 178 located at one end of the cylinder and orifices 179 and 180 located at the opposite end of the cylinder. 181 is a lever swung intermediately of its length upon a pin 182 carried by the cylnose-124 inder 181 and pivotally connected at each end of the rods 173' and 174 at 183 and 184.

It will thus be seen that when one of'the.

rods 173 or 174 is moved in one direction, the other of the rods 173 or 174 is moved in the opposite direction.

It will be understood that during the compression stroke of the piston 83 it is necessary that the head of the cylinder opposing the piston as it makes this stroke is absolutely closet, and it is also necessary that an opening be made in theopposing head of the cylinder in order to destroy the vacuum produced by the stroke of the piston within the cylinder which not only eliminates the compression of air and the retarding of the return stroke of the piston 83, but also prevents the opening of the corresponding inlet valve 1.06 or 208 and drawing in of mix ture at oneend of the cylinder 81 and air atthe opposite end. In order to accomplish this I have provided the rods 173 and 174 with the orifices 175 and 176 which are brmiglit into alignn'ient with orifices in the head behind the piston when pumping of the mixture at one end of the cylinder 81 or when pumping of the air at the-oppositeend of the cylinder 81 by repeated strokes of the piston into corresponding endof the storage cylinder 82.

I will now describe means by which the rods 173 and 174; are moved to produce this result. 18. and 186 are swinging sectors mounted upon pins 18-7 and 188 carried by brackets 189 and 190. The sectors 185 and 186 are provided with tail pieces connected by tension springs 191 and 192 to'pins 193 and 194. carried by the cylinder 81. The inner faces'of the sectors 185 and 186 are provided with are shaped ribs 195 and 196the inner faces of which incline inwardly towards their inner ends andagainst which inclined faces the opposing ends of the rods 173 and 174: bear. The inner faces of the sectors 185 and 186 are also provided with are shaped ribs 197 and 198 the inner faces of which incline inwardly towards their outer end and are so located that when either sector is swung to its upward position the outer end of the inclined ribs are engaged with the out-turned ends of the levers 1451 and 165. 'The levers 141 and 165 are forced out into this position by means of the springs 199 and 200. 201 and 202 arecompression springs adapted to return the pushv rods 135 and 1. .6 to their normal position. 203 is a pipe for conveying fluid when com pressed to the point of utilization, the pipe 203 being provided with branches 204, 205 and 206 leading to orifices 79. 207 is an inlet for compressing fluid such as air, provided with a suitable check valve 208. 209 is a pipe located at the opposite end of the cylinder to the pipe 107 and connecting the cylinders 81. and 82 together. The pipe 209 is provided with a non-return valve 210.

211 is a pin carried by the sector 185 and 212 is a pin carried by the sector 186. 213 is a swinging depending arm carried by the slide bar 115 and formed with the shoulder 2 1 1 which engages with the lower face of the slide bar 115preventing its swinging move ment towards the compressing fluid inlet end of the cylinder 81. 215 is an arm similar to the arm 213 but setin an opposite direction toprevent its swinging movement towards the inlet for the combustible mixture into the cylinder 81.

In the position of the parts shown in Figs. 1 1 06 of the drawing, the combustible mixture has been forced by the piston 83 into the reservoir ready for feeding to the engine. As the piston 83 is reciprocated within the cylinder 81, the combustible mixture is drawn through the inlet 105 and past the check valve 106 into the cylinder 81.

It will be noted that the valve rod 17 4; in Fig. 3 is in the closed position, rendering the left hand end of the cylinder active. As the piston '83 travels from left to right suction is produced in the left hand end ofthecylinder 81 drawing the valve 106 open and the mixture through the pipe 105 into the left hand end of the cylinder. It will also be noted that the valve rod 173 is in the open position allowing for escape of air during the movement of the piston tothe right. As the piston 83 returns to the left no'sucti on is produced at the right hand end of the cylinder 81, the orifices 178, 175 and 177 being in a line, and therefore rendering the right hand end of the cylinder 81 inactive so that air is not drawn into the right hand end of the cylinder 81 through the pipe 207 during the pumping of the mixture at the left hand end of the cylinder 81.

By the return movement of the piston 25. the valve rod 174 remaining in the closed po sition. the mixture is forced through the pipe 107 past the non-returu valve 108 into the corresponding end of the storage cylinder 82 and against the left hand face of the piston. 8 gradually forcing such piston from left to right by repeated strokes of the piston 83. As'has been before described the slide bar is rigidly connected to the piston rod 111 on which the piston 84 is carried. and thereforeas the piston 84: is forced in the direction above described the slide bar 115 is carried with it and also the cam bar 118 against which the upper end of the swinging arm bears.

hen the piston 84 has been driven to its final position the cylinder 82 to the right of the piston 84 (see Fig. 2). is full of mixture. The inclined portion 119 ofthe cam bar 118 then passes the upper end of the swinging arm 120, allowing'the lower end of such swinging arm to drop into contact with the piston rod 85 and into position in tit) the path of the projection 132. As soon as this is HQOUDJPllSllQil, and by the next forward movement of the piston rod 85, the projection 132 engages the lower end of the arm 120 formed by the portion 131 carried by the spring held extension 126. The projection 132 engages this portion forcing it against spring pressure against the lever 133, which is thereby swung on its pivot, drawing the slide bar 135 in the direction of arrow, (see Fig. 1). The wedge portion 140 being part of the slide bar 135 is carried into engagement with the inner end of the lever H1, tilting it at its pivot against the pressure oi? the spring 199 and carrying its outrturned end out of engagement with the end of the cam rib 19'1", thereby freeing the sector 185 so that it is swung downward by the tension 01 the spring 191. By the downward swing of the sector 185, the cam rib 195 is carried in contact with the opposing end of the valve rod 173 which is thereby forced longitudinally, carrying the orifice 1? out of alignment with the orifices 177 and 178. At the same time through the lever 181 the slide bar 174 is carried in the opposite direction, carrying the orifice 176 into alignment with the orifice 179 and 180, thus remlering the left hand end of the cylinder 81 as shown in Figure 3 inactive and the right hand end active. lVhen the mechanism is set in this position atmospheric air is free to enter the cylinder 81 at the end corresponding to the mixture inlet 105, therefore breaking any vacuum which might be formed so that the piston will not draw the check valve 106 off its seat and allow the mixture to enter. After this has taken place, the next. stroke of the piston 83 as it travels 'lrom the mixture inlet end is an idle or nonworking movement, drawing no mixture as heretofore. but upon its return movement air is drawn through the inlet 20? past the uonreturn *alve 208 into the cylinder 81, then as the piston 83 again passes towards the air inlet end the indrawn air is forced up into the cylinder 82. 'lhis operation continues, forcing the piston 81 in the opposite direction. that is. referring to Fig. 2 towards the right hand end of the cylinder 82, comprc: ing the charge of inhxture on the right hand side 01' the piston it will he noted that the pipe 203 is provided with a pressure controlling valve 216 which may he o'l' any type which is commouly in use. 1 do not describe this in detail as it is a 'alve which is a standard valve which can be obtained anywhere upon the market.

As the air is forced into the cylinder 82 it produces a gradually increased compression up to a maximum upon the mixture contained in the cylinder 82 at the opposite side of the piston 81, which maximum is controlled by the set of the valve 216. This pressure is exerted upon the mixture in the cylinder at the opposite side of the piston 81-. It the air pressure rises above this maximum, it is released through the valve 216. As the mixture is drawn off through the pipe 203 to the point ot' utilization and its volume decreases in the cylinder 82 a the right of the piston 84, the volume of air increases on the opposite side of the piston so that by means of the valve 216 the max1- mum pressure is exerted upon the lll'lXtlfll'O and such maximum pressure maintained.

It will thus be seen the mixture is pumped from one end of the cylinder 81 into the corresponding end oi the cylinder 82 and when the storage cylinder 82 is tilled to capacity mechanism is actuated by the piston 8 1 to stop such pumping operation and start pumping operation at the opposite end of the cylinder 81 to pump air into the opposite end of the cylinder 82 to exert a pre determined pressure upon the mixture controlled by the valve 216.

It will thus be seen that a constant equal pressure is exerted upon the mixture so that it will always be fed to the engine at the same pressure no matter how much mixture is held in reserve within the cylinder 82 at the right of the piston 84. As the piston 84 is carried in the reverse direction during the feeding of the mixture from the cylinder 81, to the point of consumption such as an engine 5, the slide bar 115 is carried in the reverse direction to that previously described,

carrying the swinging arm 213 into engagement with the pin 211, gradually forcing the sector upward and inward towards the position shown in the drawing. It will. be understood that when the sector 185 is released it swings outward and downward carrying the pin 211 upward into the path of the arm 213. lVhen the piston rod 111 moves out.- ward the arm 213 is carried by the bar 118 in the same direction, the lower end striking the pin 211 and swinging on its pivot to pass the same. lVhen the piston rod 111 returns, the arm 213 engages the outer side of the pin and is held rigid by the angular portion of the arm engaging beneath the slide bar 115 so that when such arm engages the pin 211 it forces the sector 185 back to its normal position. Upon the slide bar 115 completing its return movement. the wedge piece 157 is carried beneath the outer end 01 the lever swinging the inner end ther of downward and ilorcing the wedge portion 1.58 between the lever 1 15 and the plug 160. thereby tending .to "force the lever 145 outward and the plug 160 inward. lVhen this is effected, the piston 83 at the end of its movement towards the mixture inlet end of the cylinder 81, is carried against the plug v6O, forcing it outward and thereby drawing the slide bar 146 and wedge portion 164 Within the inner end of the lever 165, there llliv by forcing the lever against the pressure of the spring 200 out of engagement with the end of the cam. rib 168, thereby freeing the sector 186 which is then carried downward by the spring 192. The cam rib 196 during this movement contacts with the opposing end of the valve rod 174, forcing it in the opposite direction to that previously described, and thereby again reversing the position of the valve rods 174 and 173.

As soon as this operation is complete, the combustible mixture is again drawn into the cylinder 81 to be stored in the cylinder 82. During the next storingoperation of the combustible mixture the depending arm 215 engages the pin 212 carrying the sector 186 back to its normal position to be locked in such position by the lever 165.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A compressor comprising a main gas compressing cylinder and a piston reciprocating within the cylinder, a gas inlet, a gas reservoir, a gas outlet'connecting the main cylinder and reservoir, a non-return valve from the gas outlet, and ineans actuated by the reciprocation of the piston within the main cylinder for producing a constant air pressure against the charge of gas within the reservoir. i

2. A compressor, comprising av gas compressing cylinder, agas reservoir, a gas iiilet one end of the compressing cylinder and an air inlet at the opposite end, a nonreturn valve for controlling each inlet, a valve controlled vent located at each end of the compressor cylinder, pipes connecting each end of the compressing cylinder at each end of the reservoir provided with non: return valves, a piston within the reservoir against one face or" which the gas is fed from the compressor cylinder and against the opposite face of which air is fed, means operated by the movement of the reservoir piston as it reaches each end of its stroke for closing the aforesaid vent at the corresponding end and opening the vent at the opposite end 'ot' the compressor cylinder, an outlet pipe toi' feeding the air from the reservoir provided with a pressure control valve.

3. A compressor, comprising a compressing cylinder having a gas inlet at one end and an air inlet at the opposite end, a piston meeting with the compressor, a reservoir cylinder, a piston coacting with the reser voir, a vent at each end of the compressor cylinder, a slide valve controlling each port, a lever pivoted intermediatelyof its length and pivotally connected at its ends to the slide valves, a tripable cam means operating against the opposite end of each slide valve, means operated by the piston of the reservoir as it reaches each end'of its stroke for tripping one of such cam mechanisms to move the corresponding valve to the closed position and the corresponding valve at the opposite end of the cylinder to the open position, a check valve controlling pipes connecting each end of the compressor cylinder With each end of the reservoir cylinder, and a valve controlled air discharge pipe leading from the reservoir. 4. A compressor, comprising a compressing cylinder having a gas inlet at one end I and an air inlet at the opposite end, a piston coacting with the compressor, a reservoir cylinder, a piston co'acting with the reservoir, a vent at each end of the compressor cylinder, a slide valve controlling each vent, a lever pivoted intermediately oi its lengthand pivotally connected at its ends to the slide valves, a tripable cam means operating against the opposite end of each slide valve, means operated by the piston of the reservoir as it reaches each endof its stroke 'for. tripping one of such cam" mechanisms at one end of the compressor cylinder, and p a gas inlet pipe at the opposite end, a reservoir cylinder, a piston operating within the reservoir cylinder, non-return valve con-' trolled pipes connecting the ends of the coinpressor cylinder and reservoir cylinder together, a vent at each end of the compressor cylinder and slide valves controlling said each vent, a piston rod for the reservoir piston, a cam bar slidable in guide ways and connected to the piston rod of the reservoir and tripping mechanism, a swinging arm hearing at one end against the cam bar,

means coacting with the compressor piston. rod for tripping mechanism at one end of the compressor cylinder upon the release of the swinging bar, means operated by the trip mechanism for moving the slide valve at the corresponding end of the compressor cylinder, and tripping mechanism at the op-. posite end of the compressor cylinder operated by the compressor piston as it reaches the end of its stroke whereby the slide valve at the opposite end of the cylinder is operated.

WILLIAM HOlVARD BUNKER. 

